Suppose you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident that was the result of a training failure by the trucking company. In that case, you must call the Oklahoma City trucking company negligence attorneys at Abel Law Firm immediately. Being the victim of a truck accident can be a traumatic event. Commercial trucks like 18-wheelers are massive vehicles. They can cause grave harm if they are involved in an accident. If you were injured in a trucking accident caused by the truck driver’s or trucking company’s negligent actions, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries. While we understand that money cannot undo the harm you have suffered, it can help ease the financial burdens you may face due to the accident.
Truck drivers must be trained and certified before loading and delivering cargo. They must obtain additional qualifications in order to carry particular kinds of freight. Trucking companies often hire drivers and agree to provide them with the necessary training. Unfortunately, when they fail to do so, either in order to get drivers on the road quickly or to lessen their own expenses, others are endangered.
If you have been injured in a crash that appears to have been a product of a trucking company’s negligence in training its drivers, a civil lawsuit may be in order. You may be able to obtain financial compensation for your medical bills, vehicle repairs, and other relevant damage. Contact the Oklahoma City trucking company’s failure to train lawyers of the Abel Law Firm at (405) 239-7046 today to speak with a qualified attorney about your case.
Training Failure
An employer also has the responsibility to train their employees properly. Truck drivers have rules set out by the FMCSA that they must follow. For instance, one rule dictates how many hours can be driven in a given period of time. For this rule and others like it, the employer must ensure that the driver is adequately trained and knows all the regulations that come with the job.
Potential Dangers Associated with Unqualified Drivers
While on the surface, driving a commercial truck may appear to be no different than driving a car, truck, or SUV. However, there are many significant distinctions between these tasks. The size, weight, and configuration are drastically different, as are braking and other mechanisms. Drivers who have not been adequately trained may be unprepared to contend with these issues. The following are some potential consequences of inadequate driver training:
- Lack of awareness regarding No-Zones and visibility concerns
- Inability to properly gauge turning radius and braking distance
- Improper loading of cargo
- Improper securing of a trailer
- Failure to switch gears safely
- Failure to recognize and respond to weather conditions which warrant the use of chains or strongly suggest stopping altogether
If an unqualified truck driver has harmed you or someone you love, know that you have rights. The injury attorneys at Abel Law Firm can help you exercise those rights.
Truck Accidents and Your Rights
Unfortunately, truck accidents occur somewhat regularly. This is especially concerning because of the amount of damage large commercial vehicles can cause when they are involved in an accident. Vehicles that fall into the category of large commercial vehicles can include 18-wheel semis, big-rigs, chartered buses, and any vehicle carrying hazardous material. With the need to move goods throughout the country growing, the number of large trucks on the roads is only increasing. This greatly increases the risk of trucking accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that:
- In 2012, there were 371,000 crashes involving at least one large commercial vehicle. By 2015, there were 480,000 crashes involving at least one large commercial vehicle.
- In 2012, there were 3,376 fatal crashes involving at least one large commercial vehicle. By 2015, there were 3,838 crashes involving at least one large commercial vehicle.
- In 2012, there were 85,000 injuries reported due to an accident involving at least one large commercial vehicle. In 2015, that number increased to 97,000.
As the data shows, the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents involving large commercial vehicles is increasing. In many cases, these truck accidents are the result of the driver’s or carrier company’s negligence or recklessness. Some of the behavior that may fall into the category of negligence is if the company fails to hire qualified drivers or fails to properly train drivers.
Contact Us
Trucking companies who seek to increase their profit by taking dangerous shortcuts should be held accountable for this negligence. Contact the Oklahoma City trucking company failure to train lawyers of the Abel Law Firm at (405) 239-7046 today if you have been injured in a crash that was caused by an untrained or under-trained commercial truck driver.